Marlin’s nose twitched, as did his cock. The heady scent of Nic was much heavier in his bedroom, which was to be expected. But still... it shouldn’t affect him so strongly.

However, it did.

And as he watched Nic finish taking off his jeans... oh so slowly... Marlin’s recovery time was reduced to nil.

Oh yes, he was certainly ready for the full experience of the man before him.

As Nic finished stripping himself of his clothes, he didn’t break their gaze. Oh no, their eyes remained locked even though Marlin wanted to let them roam over every curve and plane of the man’s fit body.

He definitely could see why Kai had been attracted to Nic.

That thought made Marlin wince. Before he could have second thoughts, Nic was there, dropping to his knees once more, but this time to yank off Marlin’s shoes and toss them to the side before removing Marlin’s pants once again.

“Don’t even think about it,” Nic murmured as he stood up then took his own erection into his hand, stroking it slowly. “Right now, the only two males in this room should be you and me. That’s it.”

“That simple.”

Nic gave a sharp nod as he continued to stroke himself. “Yes, that simple.”

Marlin wished it was.

But as his nostrils flared, he picked up an unfamiliar scent that wasn’t there earlier. A strange look crossed Nic’s face and he said quickly, “I’ll be right back, I need to prepare.” With what seemed like a plastered-on smile, he swept a hand toward the large bed. “Make yourself at home.”

Marlin’s brows furrowed as he watched Nic cross the room and head into the master bathroom, quickly closing the door behind him.

Strange. Most humans he’d been with kept lube in the nightstand next to the bed. Maybe Nic just wanted to freshen up first.

He sat on the edge of the bed and glanced around Nic’s room. The house was rustic and so was the bedroom. What looked like hand-carved wood made up the bed frame and the headboard. The rest of the furniture in the room was made from knotty pine and shone from being heavily shellacked. It fit the feel of the cabin. Up here the walls were drywall instead of exposed logs, but the ceiling was high and was accented by rough log beams. Clearly a man’s room, and it also fit Nic perfectly. Marlin could see him being a woodsman, holding an axe and chopping wood until his skin glistened with sweat.

Marlin’s fingers circled his cock and he began to stroke it at that fantasy. But when the door to the bathroom opened, he quickly realized reality was even better.

Nic came out with a container of lube in his hand and he moved closer to the bed, before placing it on the nightstand.

The tube was completely full and didn’t look like it had been opened. “Don’t use any yet, I might want to—”

“I already did. I didn’t want to wait.”

Though Marlin was briefly disappointed, he could pleasure Nic in that way next time.

Next time?

Great Poseidon! There wasn’t going to be a next time. This was it. One night and done. Rid Nic from his system and then concentrate on finding his fated mate. Find a Selkie he’d be able to have sons with since he certainly couldn’t do that with a human.

Nic stepped between Marlin’s parted knees, pushing them wider, and shoved his fingers into his hair. Tipping Marlin’s head back, Nic leaned over and crushed his lips to his. Circling Nic’s waist with his hands, Marlin groaned into his mouth. He slipped them down and around to cup Nic’s ass cheeks, then separated them, exploring the man’s crease.

Marlin broke the kiss. “You’re slick... but...” His eyes landed on the tube of lube again in confusion.

“I said I prepared myself already.”

“But—”

Nic interrupted him by quickly shoving at Marlin’s shoulders until he fell back onto the bed. “I’m anxious to be with you.”

Marlin tried to sit up, but Nic climbed onto the bed and straddled him, holding his shoulders down.

“I, as well, with you, but—”

“C’mon, prince, are we going to chit-chat? Or are we going to fuck?”

“Nic,” Marlin growled.

“For crissakes, rut.”

With a powerful twist of his body, Marlin knocked Nic off him and onto his back. On his hands and knees, he moved swiftly until he was over Nic, staring down into his surprised brown eyes. “We will rut.”

Nic smiled. “Do you want me in the position of submission that your omegas take?”

Oh, holy sea gods, he certainly did.

“Will you pretend I’m your omega? Bite my neck? Pretend to claim me?”

Pretending wasn’t going to help Marlin get rid of those types of fantasies. Which was the whole reason why he’d come to the little cabin in the woods today.

But what disturbed Marlin the most was that Nic knew way too much about Selkie rutting. Supposedly the male had hybrid friends and, most likely, lovers. And he assumed Kai had discussed their Selkie ways during his time with Nic.

Even so...

When Marlin had come to fetch Del with Rian a couple of years ago, he had been surprised when the strong smell of omega filled the home. It wasn’t Del’s scent, either. No, it was the scent of another omega. So maybe Nic found pleasure in rutting with omega hybrids. Which would make sense if Nic liked to top.

Either way, the man clearly had an attraction to Selkies, be it full-blooded or hybrids. He wasn’t sure why, but at this point it really didn’t matter. What Nic had done with any hybrids in the past wasn’t any of Marlin’s business. He needed to remind himself of that.

But now he wondered if Nic made any omega hybrids take the position of submission when he rutted with them. Did he like to play alpha?

“Is that what you’d like? To pretend you’re my omega? You want me to take you as if you’re mine? Alpha claim you?” For Poseidon’s sake, just suggesting that, just hearing those words, made the precum leak even faster from Marlin’s cock and his balls pull high and tight.

Nic’s chest heaved and his eyelids got heavy. “Yes.”

“Funny. I thought you were the one who wanted to take the lead.”

“I did. Right now, I don’t.”

“Is that something you had Kai do? Alpha claim you?”

His hesitation was a little too long for Marlin’s liking. “No.”

“If you’re not already aware, we only alpha claim our mates. Usually when they’re getting our knot. You know that’s impossible, right?”

Nic shuddered slightly beneath him. A reaction Marlin did not miss. “It’s not impossible.”

Marlin’s head jerked back, and he pushed up on his palms to give them enough space so he could see Nic’s face more clearly. “You’ve taken a knot?”

Another long pause that made Marlin wonder again who Nic had been with.

“No, but you could be the first.”

“Nic...”

Nic closed his eyes, avoiding Marlin’s. “Then don’t. You could just pretend to alpha claim me.”

“You know way too much about Selkies,” Marlin muttered.

“I know what I like and what does it for me. It’s up to you how far you take it.”

Marlin considered the man beneath him. Both of their erections were still raging, the heat coming from Nic’s body was searing, the scent alluring. He never had a human that smelled so delectable.

“I can control my knot.” Who was he trying to convince? Him or Nic?

“I’m aware of that,” Nic said on a whisper.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll want to.”

Nic’s eyes popped open. “What are you saying?”

“I’m not going to repeat myself,” Marlin said firmly.

“Ah, there you go, showing your true alpha.” Nic tilted his head. “So, my alpha, how do you want me?”

Blood surged through Marlin at Nic calling him his alpha. How could those two simple words make him want to flip this male over and take him like he would take his very own omega?

It was only a game to Nic. That’s all. A game.

Even so, a game Marlin was willing to play.

He rolled off Nic and got to his knees. He pointed to the mattress. “Present yourself to me, Omega.”

A flush rose up Nic’s chest and into his cheeks. His cock flexed along his hip. Marlin had an urge to wrap his mouth around it. But that would have to wait because Nic was prepped and ready, and Marlin wasn’t going to hold off any longer. He could savor Nic’s cock afterward. They did have all night.

Yes, he could do that later because right now Nic was moving into position. The position of an omega presenting himself to his alpha. On his knees, ass in the air, his forehead pressed into the bed.

The breath rushed out of him as he studied Nic. He was perfect. Yes, he was mouthy and sometimes had an attitude. Other times even sarcastic. Good thing he wasn’t a Selkie omega because Marlin couldn’t imagine the male being obedient.

And an alpha could only take so much disobedience from his mate. At least not without punishing the omega.

Great sea gods, now his debaucherous thoughts had turned to spanking Nic in order to “punish” him.

He just needed to rut with the man and not stay the night. Not prolong any of this. Then clear his thoughts with a long swim in the Great Sea afterward. Hopefully forget Nic even existed. Instruct Kenn to never bring him here again no matter what Marlin commanded.

Yes... That’s what he needed to do.

He was going to do this, get it over with and go.

Marlin moved behind Nic and let his gaze roam over the perfect muscular globes of the man’s ass, his glistening hole which beckoned him, his hard cock which hung between partially spread thighs, the string of precum which dangled from the tip. Marlin licked his lips. He wanted to taste that silky, salty fluid on his tongue.

Marlin shifted forward enough so he could touch Nic, slide his palms over his ass cheeks, imagine them getting redder with each spank he doled out. He traced a finger through his crease, circled that tight hole, and traveled lower, brushing his hand over Nic’s erection until he captured that tempting precum on his finger. He lifted it to his mouth and tasted...

A low groan escaped him as the man’s essence filled his mouth.

“Marlin...” Even though Nic’s voice was muffled in the pillow, he could still hear his name thick with want and need.

If Nic wanted to play alpha and omega, then they were going to play alpha and omega. Even though Marlin had never had an omega before because it was forbidden for an alpha to take an omega that wasn’t theirs.

But he certainly could pretend. “Do not call me by my first name, Omega.”

“Yes, my alpha.”

Lube dripped from Nic’s anus the same way it would from an omega’s slick glands. That made it even easier to pretend.

Marlin lined the head of his cock against Nic’s entrance and felt him relax and open for him. He wanted to thrust hard and fast and come as deeply as possible into Nic’s canal. But he wanted to enjoy these moments, too. He also wanted to make sure Nic got pleasure out of it.

Grabbing Nic’s hips, Marlin pressed forward, the head of his cock easily slipping past his sphincter. He paused just inside him, trying to still his spinning mind, his racing thoughts.

The urge to dominate Nic, to show him who was the true alpha overcame him.

“Fuck me,” Nic urged, his fingers clutching the bedspread tightly, his knuckles turning white.

“We don’t fuck, Omega,” Marlin growled, shoving his hips forward until he was completely encased within Nic’s tight, slick heat.

He began to move in the age-old rhythm that alphas used with omegas. Taking them, making them theirs. Coming deeply inside them to send them into oestrus, to impregnate them, to produce sons.

And while, yes, they were pretending, a niggling desire made Marlin wish it was real.

Nic was a handful. He would certainly be a challenge, but he could be Marlin’s perfect match. Marlin would enjoy bringing him to heel, making him a perfect mate.

He was everything Marlin liked in another male.

If only he was a Selkie. If only he was an omega.

But he wasn’t.

And even though the reason for coming there today was to exorcise Nic from his thoughts, he knew right then and there as he listened to the man’s cries and encouragement as Marlin pounded him hard, their skin slapping together, that he’d be back.

He’d return.

Until he found his fated mate, he would spend as many nights as possible with this man. He’d never felt such a strong pull to any other being before.

There was something about Nic...

Nic’s words swirled through his brain. “Yes, my alpha. Yes. Please. Harder.”

Instead of speeding up, instead of taking him harder like Nic encouraged, Marlin slowed once again, wanting to take his time.

He curled over the male, sliding his tongue up the indentation of his spine, starting from between the man’s shoulder blades to his exposed neck.

The neck Nic wanted him to bite. To claim. To make believe.

He would have to ask Nic how he did it, how he had prepared himself so well. Because the longer and deeper Marlin thrusted, the slicker Nic became. Even though Marlin had never had an omega before, he couldn’t imagine it was much different from what he was experiencing at that moment.

The betas had to use lube just like the humans, and never once had any of them felt like this. Smelled like this.

His eyes rolled back, and his mouth opened as his breath escaped him like the steam from a locomotive.

He pressed his mouth to Nic’s ear. “I’m taking you, Omega. I’m making you mine.”

“Yes,” Nic hissed.

“I’m going to alpha claim you.”

“Yes.”

He dragged his nose along the skin behind Nic’s ear. Scenting him there, since he was human, should not cause Marlin to react. But again, they were pretending. “I smell your scent, my omega, the one that binds you to me.”

Nic rolled his forehead forward, giving him better access to that spot behind his ear, where an omega’s scent gland would be found, and doing so stretched the back of his neck. Marlin imagined that sweet, recognizable aroma filling his nostrils, his lungs. He thrust deeply inside Nic once more, remaining deep, grinding against him.

He trailed his lips from that tender area back to his neck that just begged for his teeth.

He’d never bitten anyone there before. Never. It just wasn’t done. Besides, he never felt the desire to do it because, from what he knew, it was done instinctively while knotting an omega. Its purpose was to hold the omega down, to keep him still until the knot was seated and secure, so neither party got injured.

However, it also left a mark. During oestrus a couple would rut so many times that the mark would eventually become permanent. That mark warned other alphas that the omega was claimed by his mate and to stay away.

Similar to the branding his father, the king, insisted all of his sons’ fated mates be marked with at the top of their right buttock. A practice none of the princes agreed with. They all believed an alpha-claim on the back of their omega’s neck was enough.

And it was. They just needed to convince their stubborn father and the Royal Council of that.

But right now, it wasn’t his fated mate that he was rutting with. No, it was Nic. And he knew it would be wrong to alpha claim the man, even though it really wouldn’t mean anything. They were simply playacting.

He also knew he couldn’t knot Nic, no matter what the man said.

Marlin licked the back of Nic’s neck, tasting his salty, damp skin. The ends of his dark hair were starting to curl with sweat.

“Nic... my omega... Are you sure you want me to bite you?”

His answer was Nic slamming himself back against him, driving Marlin deeper as he tried to set the pace.

Marlin held still, allowing Nic to impale himself. He ground his teeth as the urge to release himself, to give Nic his seed, became overwhelming.

“Give me your knot, my alpha.”

No. No. He would not.

“Bite me,” Nic cried out, moving his hips faster, rocking back so hard that Marlin couldn’t be any deeper inside of him.

“Will you come if I do?” Marlin barely managed to get out between gritted teeth.

“Yessss.”

Marlin opened his mouth and sank his teeth firmly into the flesh of Nic’s neck.

Nic cried out that he was coming and his body twitched while his canal squeezed Marlin tight.

And then blood rushed through Marlin, heading south, making his cock swell even bigger.

No.

No.

He couldn’t knot Nic.

He wouldn’t knot Nic.

It was simply mind over matter. He needed to dig up every inch of willpower he had.

There was no reason his body should be out of control like that.

None.

He squeezed his eyes shut, his teeth still tightly gripping the back of Nic’s neck. And he fought the knot.

He would injure Nic and he wanted to give the man pleasure, not pain.

No. He just needed to fight it.

Fight it.

He repeated those two words over and over in his head. He thought he was making ground until warm fingers cupped his sac and gently squeezed.

Then everything happened at once. He drove forward one last time, he swelled to a thickness he never had before, and his knot expanded before he could pull out. He couldn’t control the spasms his body went into as he shot his seed deep inside Nic. He struggled to keep from ripping Nic’s skin with his teeth as he groaned around the bite.

Oh great sea gods. The feeling of knotting another male was amazing. But Nic...

He released the man’s flesh. “I’m sorry! Bloody hell, I didn’t mean to...”

Nic’s body heaved beneath him as he tried to catch his breath. “It’s okay... I’m okay. I’m... Holy shit...”

On the soul of the mighty Poseidon, what had he done? “I can’t pull out without injuring you further.”

“I’m not injured. I’m okay.” Nic’s ragged words came muffled from the pillow.

“This wasn’t my intent...”

“I’m okay.”

“Maybe you can loosen up—”

Nic lifted his head enough to yell, “Marlin! I’m okay!”

Marlin jerked his head back in surprise. “It doesn’t hurt?”

“It’s fine.”

“How can that be?”

“Because people can do things to stretch—”

“Understood,” Marlin said quickly to stop that explanation. “But still... I’m sorry.”

“Jesus,” Nic muttered. “Stop beating yourself up. I said you could knot me. You did. It’s fine. Now can we just enjoy these moments?”

“You find this enjoyable?”

“Yes, I would, if you’d shut the hell up.”

Marlin’s mouth dropped open at Nic’s hissed words, then he snapped his jaws shut. A second later, he burst out laughing. “I... I’m... sorry.” He tried to catch his breath. “We’re in a bit of a predicament here.”

“Marlin...” Nic sighed loudly. “Just guide us to our sides or something. You laughing is jiggling our bodies.”

Marlin hooked an arm around Nic’s waist and carefully moved them to their sides until they were spooning. “I truly am sorry, Nic. I know you wanted it, but I didn’t want... I tried to fight it...”

“This will be the last time I’m saying it, I asked for it. I’m fine.”

Marlin studied Nic’s dark hair, then his eyes landed on the mark on the back of his neck. The red indentations of his bite, his pretend alpha-claim. It would go away, but right now, seeing that, being knotted with Nic, he knew this would make everything worse for him. The man had been hard to resist before. Nic tempted him, whether the man knew it or not.

And now...

Marlin pressed his lips to the center of where his teeth had left an impression. A shudder went through Nic. Marlin pulled Nic closer against him and tightened his embrace. “Are you cold?”

“No.”

“You shivered.”

“From your kiss.”

Marlin nuzzled his nose behind Nic’s ear. “While I’m horrified I lost control like that, I have to say it was very... enjoyable... is enjoyable being connected with you.”

“Have you ever knotted anyone before?”

“No. Like I said, it should be impossible to knot a human without injury. I haven’t been with any hybrids and only a couple of our betas can handle a knot, but I haven’t...” None of the betas ever got his blood boiling like Nic did.

“You never wanted to experience it?”

“I have,” Marlin said slowly and carefully. “I look forward to claiming my omega when I find him.”

Nic’s voice sounded flat when he said, “You will do your duty.”

“Let’s just say, I’m in no rush. I’m fine with it and won’t fight the mate the fates decide on. Bonding with an omega and producing sons are important, not because I’m a prince—my father certainly doesn’t need any more heirs—but because it’s a duty I’m obliged to carry out because of our race. For Selkies to survive, we must produce sons. All of us. Even though things are getting better with each generation, we still lose too many omegas and pups during whelp.”

“Selkies want to take over the world,” Nic murmured.

“No, but we want to survive. I love being a Selkie. I’m proud to be a Selkie. I can’t even explain the feeling—that feeling of freedom—when I don my seal skin and dive into the Great Sea. That undeniable joy. I wish everyone could experience it. To lose one’s skin would be tragic. Even life-altering and soul-shattering.”

Nic said nothing.

“It’s too bad you’ll never experience it,” Marlin said softly, letting his fingers roam over Nic’s chest and stomach. The man wasn’t soft at all, he had the muscular body of a man who worked hard. Though, he had no idea what Nic did for a living. While he wanted to know more about the man he was currently and intimately attached to, he also wasn’t sure if that was a good idea.

Even though he was pretty certain he’d be back to experience this once again—if Nic was in agreement—he knew it couldn’t lead to anything. Taking a lover was acceptable until he was bonded with his mate and once that happened...

No, he didn’t want to be one of those alphas who wasn’t loyal to his omega.

So, getting attached to Nic wouldn’t do at all.

But he would need to figure out how to control his knot when he was with him. Even though Nic claimed he wasn’t injured or in pain, he didn’t want to risk something happening the next time. Or the next.

He sighed. He originally told himself there wouldn’t be a next time. In all his thirty years, he’d never been this weak before.

Marlin’s fingers traced circles over Nic’s stomach, then trailed over his hip and thigh. “Are you still okay?”

Nic twisted his head enough so they could see each other. “Yes. How long does this normally last?”

“I... uh... I’m not sure. Normally during an omega’s oestrus, a knot could last up to ten minutes, maybe even longer. It’s the only sane time the couple has during what seems like a rut-fest.”

Nic pinned his lips together but his body shook with laughter.

“Now you’re the one jiggling us.”

“I know. But rut-fest...”

Marlin lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug even though Nic couldn’t see it. “Well, it is. The instinct to impregnate the omega during that time is so strong, it just... well, it’s a messy, long process and drives the two of them out of their mind.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“It isn’t.”

“I was being sarcastic.”

A smile pulled at Marlin’s lips. “I know. I like that about you.”

Nic twisted his head to peek over his shoulder at Marlin again. “Really? Kai hated it.”

Marlin’s nostrils flared. “Yes, well...”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned your brother.”

“And you mentioned him again in that last sentence. I don’t want to think of the things my brother did with you while we’re knotted. In fact, I don’t want to think of them ever. So please, let’s keep him out of your bedroom.”

Nic slipped his hand over Marlin’s which was now drawing light circles over his hip. Nic stopped the mindless motion and pulled Marlin’s hand over to his cock which was hard once again.

Marlin released a noise of surprise. “Already?”

“Should I have asked that of you earlier? You recovered more quickly than I expected.”

“I normally don’t.”

“So, I get your engines racing.”

Funny how that wasn’t a question. Marlin realized Nic already knew the truth, so there was no point in denying it. “Interesting analogy, but yes, you do. I must do the same for you.” And Marlin didn’t make his words a question, either.

“It’s the knot, it’s pressing on my prostrate.”

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“What? No! Why would you...” Nic turned his head to glance at him again. “Have you never had your prostate massaged before?”

“I...” No. He hadn’t. Should he have? “I don’t think so.”

“You would know if you had. If no one has ever stuck—”

“No. That’s forbidden.”

Nic’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean, forbidden? Being pleasured is forbidden? That’s messed up.”

“No, not being pleasured. You pleasured me earlier with your mouth. It’s just that alphas...” Marlin’s words trailed off.

“Alphas don’t get topped,” Nic finished for him. “But there are other ways to stimulate that area besides a big fat alpha cock like yours.”

“Mine is big and fat?” he asked with a mixture of surprise and awe.

“Well, you’re no slouch, especially when it swelled beyond your normal size right before you knotted me.”

“I’m no bigger than Kai.” Marlin blew out a frustrated breath. He himself had just said they needed to keep Kai out of the bedroom with them, and here he went and mentioned his brother again.

“No. But Kai never knotted me.”

“You said otherwise before,” Marlin reminded him. In the past Nic had stated Kai knotted him, even though Kai denied it. “Were you lying?”

“I begged Kai to do it many times. He refused. Can we please stop talking about Kai?”

“Yes. That would be best. But I have one more question and then we can drop it... Did you love him?”

It took few seconds before Nic answered. “Yes.”

“Do you still love him?”

“That’s two questions.”

“Yes, but I need to know.”

“Why?”

Marlin didn’t exactly know why. Some weird sense of jealousy was niggling at him at the thought of Nic still loving Kai. It had been years. The man should be over Marlin’s brother. “I just do.”

“Who do you love, Prince Marlin?”

That was easy. “My brothers. My nephews. Luca, Finn and Del, too. Hell, even that irritating beta of mine.”

“You’re missing someone important.”

Yes, he was. But instead he said, “No... not unless you mean Zander.”

“Ah, the omega Caol dragged back from Laurentia. But you know that’s not who I meant.”

“I included Zander in the term ‘brothers’ since that’s what he is, even though my father doesn’t want to recognize him. Nor does he want to recognize our beta brother who’s still living in the Southern Colony.”

The beta who they suspected was Marlin’s full blood brother.

“Your father is something else.”

Marlin’s lips flattened out. “Yes, he is. And right now, he’s not happy that we discovered that royalty all around the globe were swapping out sons who weren’t alpha-born.”

“Humans would never get away with that.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Marlin agreed.

“I’ve met him, you know.”

“Zander?”

“Yes. Out with Meesha. He’s very handsome. Like the rest of you. It’s a shame that he’s banished from your colony.”

“My father is certainly stubborn,” Marlin muttered.

Suddenly Marlin’s knot released and he slipped out of Nic, leaving a trail of fluids behind. “Do you want me to check to see if you’re okay?”

“You mean like examine me?” Nic asked in surprise.

“Yes, I could—”

“No, I have a better idea.”

“What’s that?”

Nic rolled to his back and smiled. “Since we need to clean up, you could ‘check’ me in the shower.”

“I have a feeling I won’t be checking to make sure you’re not injured.”

“And you would be right. Because I’m not. What I am is still hard and it’s time for you to take care of that.”

Marlin cocked a brow and teased, “Making demands of your alpha?”

Nic shrugged. “It’s my nature.”

Marlin released a loud, exaggerated sigh. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”